STEWART REGAN has admitted punter power helped Gordon Strachan land the Scotland hotseat.

The 50-cap Hall-of-Famer was a national treasure as a player, revered by the Tartan Army through 12 years and two World Cups.

But it was their bedsheet SOS during the defeat in Belgium that made the SFA chief executive realise they had the right man in their sights.

He said: “They were a factor in the overall decision. The fans made a strong statement with that banner, we’ve also had a lot of letters and emails, and they made it clear Gordon was their choice.

“We wanted to make sure Gordon ticked all the boxes for the board as well.”

One of the most essential boxes to be ticked was that the new manager endorsed the performance strategy put in place over the past two years.

Having thrown the kitchen sink at getting it up and running, they couldn’t afford a sceptic wanting to knock it all down.

Regan admitted: “It is vital he buys into it. We spent over two years developing this Scotland United strategy and have appointed a performance director. We have also put in a series of initiatives designed to bring young talent through.